Relief for Itchy, Tired, or Bloodshot Eyes: How to Soothe Sore Eyes from Allergies, Hangovers, or Other Irritants

Colds, allergies, dips in chlorinated pools, public whirlpools and yes, even hangovers, can cause pain in your eyes. Several readers have asked what they can do for itchy, painful or bloodshot eyes. Most suffer from seasonal allergies that peak in the spring, while others simply want relief for the pain of bloodshot hangover eyes. However, there are some simple measures you can take to both alleviate the pain and brighten and whiten your eyes.

How to Relieve Itchy Eyes

The simplest method for handling itchy eyes is cold compresses. You will need a soft cloth or washrag and some cool water. Find yourself a quiet spot where you can sit or lie down and place the cool wet cloth over your eyes.

Leave the cool cloth on your eyes, resoaking the rag as the water warms, until your itching subsides, or about 10 to 20 minutes. A cool temperature will not only stop the itch but it will also help with any swelling that might occur if your itching is due to seasonal allergies. Cold temperatures also soothe sore eyes and ease the pain while shrinking the blood vessels in eyes that look bloodshot.

An alternative to the cool rag method, if you have repeatedly itchy eyes, is to purchase an eye pack from the local cosmetic section of your store. Typically these are gel– or mineral oil–filled packs which can be placed in the refrigerator (never the freezer or they will burst) and take out whenever you have need of them. They can help calm puffy morning eyes too, if this problem plagues you.

How to Relieve Tired or Bloodshot Eyes

Eyes that are bloodshot are usually starved of adequate moisture. The simplest method to brighten tired or bloodshot eyes is the opposite of using cold; use heat. You will need a soft cloth or washrag and a bowl of warm water. Use the same application as for the cool cloth, but leave the warm cloth on your eyes until you feel they are soothed.

The heat will soothe eyes and help to lubricate them which is the best defense against bloodshot eyes. Typically, the cloth should be left on the eyes approximately 10 to 20 minutes depending on the severity of your discomfort.

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